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Support CenterKnowledge Base ArticlesCode-check of anchors (AISC)
Advanced analysis types for your steel structures
Concrete cone area of single anchor and group of anchors
Effective area in check of contact stress in concrete
Limitations to checks of anchors
Anchorage formulas, tooltips
Calculation of anchors with stand-off
Hooked anchors/L-bolts in AISC
Anchor bolts
Structural model of a concrete block
Code-check of anchors (AISC)
Code-check of concrete blocks (AISC)
Code-check of anchors according to Canadian standards
Code-check of concrete block according to Canadian standards
Russian Standard (SP) anchorage
The forces in anchors are determined by finite element analysis, but the resistances are checked using code provisions of ACI 318-14 - Chapter 17. IDEA StatiCa - concrete design software for structural code-check of concrete constructions.
Connection designSteelKnowledge baseConnectionAISC (USA)

Code-check of anchors (AISC)

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The forces in anchors including prying forces are determined by finite element analysis, but the resistances are checked using code provisions of ACI 318-14 - Chapter 17.

Only LFRD is available. Anchor rods are designed according to AISC 360-16 – J9 and ACI 318-14 – Chapter 17. The following resistances of anchor bolts are evaluated:

  • Steel strength of anchor in tension ϕNsa,
  • Concrete breakout strength in tension ϕNcbg,
  • Concrete pullout strength ϕNp,
  • Concrete side-face blowout strength ϕNsb,
  • Steel strength of anchor in shear ϕVsa,
  • Concrete breakout strength in shear ϕVcbg,
  • Concrete pryout strength of anchor in shear ϕVcp.

The user must choose the concrete condition (cracked or non-cracked – with no cracks in service condition) and the type of anchors (with or without washer plates).

Following checks of anchors loaded in tension are not provided and should be checked using information in relevant Technical Product Specification (based on the 5 percent fractile of tests performed and evaluated according to ACI 355.2):

  • Pull-out failure of fastener (for post-installed mechanical anchors) – ACI 318-19: 17.6.3,
  • Bond strength of adhesive anchor (for post-installed bonded anchors) – ACI 318-19: 17.6.5,
  • Concrete splitting failure during installation should be evaluated by ACI 355.2 requirements.

Concrete blow-out failure is provided only for anchors with washer plates.

Steel strength of anchor in tension

Steel strength of anchor in tension is determined according to ACI 318-14 – 17.4.1 as

ϕNsa = ϕ Ase,N futa

where:

  • ϕ = 0.7 – strength reduction factor for anchors in tension according to ACI 318-14 – 17.3.3, the factor is editable in Code setup
  • Ase,N – tensile stress area
  • futa – specified tensile strength of anchor steel and shall not be greater than 1.9 fya and 125 ksi

Concrete breakout strength

Concrete breakout strength is designed according to the Concrete Capacity Design (CCD) in ACI 318-14 – Chapter 17. In the CCD method, the concrete cone is considered to be formed at an angle of approximately 34° (1 vertical to 1.5 horizontal slope). For simplification, the cone is considered to be square rather than round in plan. The concrete breakout stress in the CCD method is considered to decrease with an increase in size of the breakout surface. Consequently, the increase in strength of the breakout in the CCD method is proportional to the embedment depth to the power of 1.5. Anchors whose concrete cones overlap create a group of anchors which create a common concrete cone. Note that no equivalent ASD solution exists for concrete capacity design.

ϕNcbg=ϕANcANcoψec,Nψed,Nψc,Nψcp,NNb\phi N_{cbg} = \phi \frac{A_{Nc}}{A_{Nco}} \psi_{ec,N} \psi_{ed,N} \psi_{c,N} \psi_{cp,N} N_bϕNcbg​=ϕANco​ANc​​ψec,N​ψed,N​ψc,N​ψcp,N​Nb​

where:

  • ϕ = 0.7 – strength reduction factor for anchors in tension according to ACI 318-14 – 17.3.3, the factor is editable in Code setup
  • ANc – actual concrete breakout cone area for a group of anchors that create a common concrete cone
  • ANco = 9 hef2 – concrete breakout cone area for single anchor not influenced by edges
  • ψec,N=11+2eN′3hef\psi_{ec,N} = \frac{1}{1+\frac{2 e'_N}{3 h_{ef}}}ψec,N​=1+3hef​2eN′​​1​ – modification factor for anchor groups loaded eccentrically in tension; in the case where eccentric loading exists about two axes, the modification factor Ψec,N is calculated for each axis individually and the product of these factors is used
  • ψed,N=min⁡(0.7+0.3ca,min1.5hef,1)\psi_{ed,N} = \min \left ( 0.7 + \frac{0.3 c_{a,min}}{1.5 h_{ef}}, 1 \right )ψed,N​=min(0.7+1.5hef​0.3ca,min​​,1) – modification factor for edge distance
  • ca,min – smallest distance from the anchor to the edge
  • Ψc,N – modification factor for concrete conditions; Ψc,N =1 for cracked concrete, Ψc,N =1.25 for non-cracked concrete
  • Ψcp,N = min (ca,min / cac,1) – modification factor for splitting for post-installed anchors designed for uncracked concrete without supplementary reinforcement to control splitting; Ψcp,N = 1 for all other cases
  • Nb=kcλafc′hef1.5N_b = k_c \lambda_a \sqrt{f'_c} h_{ef}^{1.5}Nb​=kc​λa​fc′​​hef1.5​ – basic concrete breakout strength of a single anchor in tension in cracked concrete; for cast-in anchors and 11 in. ≤ hef ≤ 25 in. Nb=16λafc′hef5/3N_b = 16 \lambda_a \sqrt{f'_c} h_{ef}^{5/3}Nb​=16λa​fc′​​hef5/3​
  • kc = 24 for cast-in anchors
  • hef – depth of embedment; according to Chapter 17.4.2.3 in ACI 318-14, the effective embedment depth hef is reduced to hef=max⁡(ca,max1.5,s3)h_{ef} = \max \left ( \frac{c_{a,max}}{1.5}, \frac{s}{3} \right )hef​=max(1.5ca,max​​,3s​) if anchors are located less than 1.5 hef from three or more edges
  • s – spacing between anchors
  • ca,max – maximum distance from an anchor to one of the three close edges
  • λa = 1 – modification factor for lightweight concrete
  • f'c – concrete compressive strength [psi]

According to ACI 318-14 – 17.4.2.8, in case of headed anchors, the projected surface area ANc is determined from the effective perimeter of the washer plate, which is the lesser value of da + 2 twp or dwp, where:

  • da – anchor diameter
  • dwp – washer plate diameter or edge size
  • twp – washer plate thickness

The group of anchors is checked against the sum of tensile forces in anchors loaded in tension and creating a common concrete cone.

The concrete breakout cone area for group of anchors loaded by tension that create common concrete cone, Ac,N, is shown by red dashed line.

According to ACI 318-14 – 17.4.2.9, where anchor reinforcement is developed in accordance with ACI 318-14 – 25 on both sides of the breakout surface, the anchor reinforcement is presumed to transfer the tension forces, and concrete breakout strength is not evaluated.

Concrete pullout strength

Anchor bolts with washer plate (headed bolts):

Concrete pullout strength of a headed anchor bolt is defined in ACI 318-14 – 17.4.3 as

ϕNpn = ϕΨc,P Np

where:

  • ϕ = 0.7 – strength reduction factor for anchors in tension according to ACI 318-14 – 17.3.3, editable in Code setup
  • Ψc,P – modification factor for concrete condition; Ψc,P = 1.0 for cracked concrete, Ψc,P = 1.4 for non-cracked concrete
  • NP = 8 Abrg f'c for headed anchor
  • Abrg – bearing area of the head of stud or anchor bolt
  • f'c – concrete compressive strength

Hooked anchor bolts (J- or L-bolts):

Concrete pullout strength of a hooked anchor bolt is defined in ACI 318-14 – 17.4.3 as

ϕNpn = ϕΨc,P Np

where:

  • ϕ = 0.7 – strength reduction factor for anchors in tension according to ACI 318-14 – 17.3.3, editable in Code setup
  • Ψc,P – modification factor for concrete condition; Ψc,P = 1.0 for cracked concrete, Ψc,P = 1.4 for non-cracked concrete
  • NP = 0.9 f'c eh da for hooked anchor bolt
  • f'c – concrete compressive strength
  • eh – distance from the inner surface of the shaft of a J- or L-bolt to the outer tip of the J- or L-bolt
  • da – anchor bolt diameter

Concrete pullout strength for other types of anchors than headed or hooked is not evaluated in the software and has to be specified by the manufacturer.

Concrete side-face blowout strength

Concrete side-face blowout strength of headed anchor in tension is defined in ACI 318-14 – 17.4.4 as

ϕNsb=ϕ160ca1Abrgfc′\phi N_{sb} = \phi 160 c_{a1} \sqrt{A_{brg}} \sqrt{f'_c}ϕNsb​=ϕ160ca1​Abrg​​fc′​​

The concrete side-face blowout strength is multiplied by one of reduction factors:

  • 1+ca2ca14≤1\frac{1+\frac{c_{a2}}{c_{a1}}}{4} \le 141+ca1​ca2​​​≤1
  • 1+s6ca12≤1\frac{1+\frac{s}{6 c_{a1}}}{2} \le 121+6ca1​s​​≤1

where:

  • ϕ = 0.7 – strength reduction factor for anchors in tension according to ACI 318-14 – 17.3.3, editable in Code setup
  • ca1 – shorter distance from the centreline of an anchor to an edge
  • ca2 – longer distance, perpendicular to ca1, from the centreline of an anchor to an edge
  • Abrg – bearing area of the head of stud or anchor bolt
  • f'c – concrete compressive strength
  • s – spacing between two adjacent anchors near one edge

Steel strength in shear

The steel strength in shear is determined according to ACI 318-14 – 17.5.1 as

ϕVsa = ϕ 0.6 Ase,V futa

where:

  • ϕ = 0.65 – strength reduction factor for anchors in tension according to ACI 318-14 – 17.3.3, editable in Code setup
  • Ase,V – tensile stress area
  • futa – specified tensile strength of anchor steel and shall not be greater than 1.9 fya and 125 ksi

If mortar joint is selected, steel strength in shear Vsa is multiplied by 0.8 (ACI 318-14 – 17.5.1.3).

The shear on lever arm, which is present in the case of base plate with oversized holes and washers or plates added to the top of the base plate to transmit the shear force, is not considered.

Concrete breakout strength of anchor in shear

The concrete breakout strength of an anchor or anchor group in shear is designed according to ACI 318 14 – 17.5.2.

ϕVcbg=ϕAVAVoψec,Vψed,Vψc,Vψh,Vψα,VVb\phi V_{cbg} = \phi \frac{A_V}{A_{Vo}} \psi_{ec,V} \psi_{ed,V} \psi_{c,V} \psi_{h,V} \psi_{\alpha,V} V_bϕVcbg​=ϕAVo​AV​​ψec,V​ψed,V​ψc,V​ψh,V​ψα,V​Vb​

where:

  • ϕ = 0.65 – strength reduction factor for anchors in shear according to ACI 318-14 – 17.3.3, editable in Code setup
  • Av – projected concrete failure area of an anchor or group of anchors
  • Avo – projected concrete failure area of one anchor when not limited by corner influences, spacing, or member thickness
  • ψec,V=11+2eV′3ca1\psi_{ec,V} = \frac{1}{1+\frac{2 e'_V}{3 c_{a1}}}ψec,V​=1+3ca1​2eV′​​1​ – modification factor for anchor groups loaded eccentrically in shear
  • ψed,V=0.7+0.3ca21.5ca1≤1.0\psi_{ed,V} = 0.7 + 0.3 \frac{c_{a2}}{1.5 c_{a1}} \le 1.0ψed,V​=0.7+0.31.5ca1​ca2​​≤1.0 – modification factor for edge effect
  • Ψc,V – modification factor for concrete condition; Ψc,V = 1.0 for cracked concrete, Ψc,V = 1.4 for non-cracked concrete
  • ψh,V=1.5ca1ha≥1\psi_{h,V} = \sqrt{\frac{1.5 c_{a1}}{h_a}} \ge 1ψh,V​=ha​1.5ca1​​​≥1 – modification factor for anchors located in a concrete member where ha < 1.5 ca1
  • ψα,V=1(cos⁡αV)2+(0.5sin⁡αV)2\psi_{\alpha ,V} = \sqrt{\frac{1}{(\cos \alpha_V )^2 + (0.5 \sin \alpha_V)^2}}ψα,V​=(cosαV​)2+(0.5sinαV​)21​​ – modification factor for anchors loaded at an angle 90° − αV with the concrete edge; in ACI 318-14 – 17.5.2.1 are only discrete values, equation is taken from FIB bulletin 58 – Design of anchorages in concrete (2011)
  • ha – height of a failure surface on the concrete side
  • Vb=min⁡(7(leda)0.2λadafc′ca11.5,9λadafc′ca11.5)V_b = \min \left ( 7 \left ( \frac{l_e}{d_a} \right )^{0.2} \lambda_a \sqrt{d_a} \sqrt{f'_c} c_{a1}^{1.5}, 9 \lambda_a \sqrt{d_a} \sqrt{f'_c} c_{a1}^{1.5} \right )Vb​=min(7(da​le​​)0.2λa​da​​fc′​​ca11.5​,9λa​da​​fc′​​ca11.5​)
  • le = hef ≤ 8 da – load-bearing length of the anchor in shear
  • da – anchor diameter
  • f'c – concrete compressive strength
  • ca1 – edge distance in the direction of load; according to Cl. 17.5.2.4, for a narrow member, c2,max < 1.5 c1 that is also deemed to be thin, ha < 1.5 c1, c'1 is used in previous equations instead of c1; the reduced c'1 = max (c2,max / 1.5, ha / 1.5, sc,max / 3)
  • ca2 – edge distance in the direction perpendicular to load
  • c2,max – largest edge distance in the direction perpendicular to load
  • sc,max – maximum spacing perpendicular to direction of shear, between anchors within a group

If ca2 ≤ 1.5 ca1 and ha ≤ 1.5 ca1, ca1=max⁡(ca21.5,ha1.5,s3)c_{a1}= \max \left ( \frac{c_{a2}}{1.5}, \frac{h_a}{1.5}, \frac{s}{3} \right )ca1​=max(1.5ca2​​,1.5ha​​,3s​), where s is the maximum spacing perpendicular to direction of shear, between anchors within a group.

According to ACI 318-14 – 17-5.2.9, where anchor reinforcement is developed in accordance with ACI 318-14 – 25 on both sides of the breakout surface, the anchor reinforcement is presumed to transfer the shear forces and concrete breakout strength is not evaluated.

Concrete pryout strength of anchor in shear

Concrete pryout strength is designed according to ACI 318-14 – 17.5.3.

ϕVcp = ϕkcp Ncp

where:

  • ϕ = 0.65 – strength reduction factor for anchors in shear according to ACI 318-14 – 17.3.3, editable in Code setup
  • kcp = 1.0 for hef < 2.5 in., kcp = 2.0 for hef ≥ 2.5 in
  • Ncp = Ncb (concrete breakout strength – all anchors are assumed in tension) in case of cast-in anchors

According to ACI 318-14 – 17.4.2.9, where anchor reinforcement is developed in accordance with ACI 318-14 – 25 on both sides of the breakout surface, the anchor reinforcement is presumed to transfer the tension forces, and concrete breakout strength is not evaluated.

Interaction of tensile and shear forces

Interaction of tensile and shear forces is assessed according to ACI 318-14 – R17.6.

(NuaNn)ζ+(VuaVn)ζ≤1.0\left ( \frac{N_{ua}}{N_n} \right )^{\zeta} + \left ( \frac{V_{ua}}{V_n} \right )^{\zeta} \le 1.0(Nn​Nua​​)ζ+(Vn​Vua​​)ζ≤1.0

where:

  • Nua and Vua – design forces acting on an anchor
  • Nn and Vn – the lowest design strengths determined from all appropriate failure modes
  • ς = 5 / 3

Anchors with stand-off

The bar element is designed according to AISC 360-16. Interaction of shear force is neglected because the minimum length of the anchor to fit the nut under the base plate ensures that the anchor fails in bending before the shear force reaches half the shear resistance, and the shear interaction is negligible (up to 7 %). Interaction of bending moment and compressive or tensile force is conservatively assumed as linear. Second order effects are not taken into account.

Shear resistance (AISC 360-16 – G):

Vn=0.6AVFyΩVV_n = \frac{0.6 A_V F_y}{\Omega_V}Vn​=ΩV​0.6AV​Fy​​    (ASD)

Vn=ϕV0.6AVFyV_n = \phi_V 0.6 A_V F_yVn​=ϕV​0.6AV​Fy​    (LRFD)

  • AV = 0.844 ∙ As – the shear area
  • As – bolt area reduced by threads
  • Fy – bolt yield strength
  • ΩV – safety factor, recommended value is 2
  • ϕV – resistance factor, recommended value is 0.75

Tensile resistance (AISC 360-16 – D2):

Pn=AsFyΩtP_n = \frac{A_s F_y}{\Omega_t}Pn​=Ωt​As​Fy​​    (ASD)

Pn=ϕtAsFyP_n = \phi_t A_s F_yPn​=ϕt​As​Fy​    (LRFD)

  • Ωt – safety factor, recommended value is 2
  • ϕt – resistance factor, recommended value is 0.75

Compressive resistance (AISC 360-16 – E3)

Pn=FcrAsΩcP_n = \frac{F_{cr} A_s}{\Omega_c}Pn​=Ωc​Fcr​As​​    (ASD)

Pn=ϕcFcrAsP_n = \phi_c F_{cr} A_sPn​=ϕc​Fcr​As​    (LRFD)

  • Fcr=0.658FyFeFyF_{cr} = 0.658^{\frac{F_y}{F_e}} F_yFcr​=0.658Fe​Fy​​Fy​ for Lcr≤4.74EFy\frac{L_c}{r} \le 4.74 \sqrt{\frac{E}{F_y}}rLc​​≤4.74Fy​E​​,  Fcr=0.877FeF_{cr} = 0.877 F_eFcr​=0.877Fe​ for Lcr>4.74EFy\frac{L_c}{r} > 4.74 \sqrt{\frac{E}{F_y}}rLc​​>4.74Fy​E​​ – critical stress
  • Fe=π2E(Lcr)2F_e = \frac{\pi^2 E} {\left ( \frac{L_c}{r} \right) ^2}Fe​=(rLc​​)2π2E​ – elastic buckling stress
  • Lc = 2 ∙ l – buckling length
  • l – length of the bolt element equal to half the base plate thickness + gap + half the bolt diameter
  • r=IAsr= \sqrt{\frac{I}{A_s}}r=As​I​​ – radius of gyration of the anchor bolt
  • I=πds464I= \frac{\pi d_s^4}{64}I=64πds4​​ – moment of inertia of the bolt
  • Ωc – safety factor, recommended value is 2
  • ϕc – resistance factor, recommended value is 0.75

Bending resistance (AISC 360-16 – F11):

Mn=ZFyΩb≤1.6SxFyΩbM_n = \frac{Z F_y}{\Omega_b} \le \frac{1.6 S_x F_y}{\Omega_b}Mn​=Ωb​ZFy​​≤Ωb​1.6Sx​Fy​​   (ASD)

Mn=ϕbZFy≤1.6ϕbSxFyM_n = \phi_b Z F_y \le 1.6 \phi_b S_x F_yMn​=ϕb​ZFy​≤1.6ϕb​Sx​Fy​   (ASD)

  • Z=ds36Z = \frac{d_s^3}{6}Z=6ds3​​ – plastic section modulus of the bolt
  • Sx=2IdsS_x= \frac{2 I}{d_s}Sx​=ds​2I​ – elastic section modulus of the bolt
  • Ωc – safety factor, recommended value is 2
  • ϕc – resistance factor, recommended value is 0.75

Linear interaction:

NPn+MMn≤1\frac{N}{P_n}+\frac{M}{M_n} \le 1Pn​N​+Mn​M​≤1

  • N – the tensile (positive) or compressive (negative sign) factored force
  • Pn – the tensile (positive) or compressive (negative sign) design or allowable strength
  • M – the factored bending moment
  • Mn – the design or allowable bending resistance

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